summer_of_giles | Fic: Magister 3 (Vamp!Giles) FRT (6/?)

I've got some more for the last day. I love you guys! And thank you all for another wonderful summer!

Ch. 6 – Gather Them

“So, is he gonna survive?”

Dawn looked up from bandaging Andrew’s neck to see her sister enter the living room. “Looks like it. He’s still unconscious. But there’s not enough blood on the floor for that. We think he must have been knocked out when he fell.”

“Did you guys find Spike?” Willow asked.

“We followed the trail for a while, but then lost it. I think, if we can figure out what they need him for, we might be able to find where they’re keeping him.”

Anya began picking up newly broken pieces of furniture. “How are we supposed to do that when we don’t even know who exactly took him?”

“I know.” Buffy knelt down and looked into the face of a dead Bringer. “I’ve seen these guys before. It’s The First.”

“The first what?” Xander asked.

The Slayer stood and glanced around at her friends. “The First Evil.” She heaved a sigh as her dramatic announcement was met with blank stares. “These are the things I fought when it was trying to get Angel to kill himself. That’s what it called itself. It’s the original. The First Evil.”

“Oh yeah, how many times did I hear that back in my demon days?” Anya huffed. “I’m so bad they don’t even have a word for me. Bady, bad, bad. Does that make you horny?” The ex-demon looked up from her work as Dawn began to giggle. Xander gave her an exasperated expression. “Or terrified? Whatever…”

“Yeah,” Buffy stood, “well I think this one meant it. I felt it. Ancient and powerful.”

“And if it could get Angel to try to kill himself,” Willow added, “who knows what it needs Spike for.”

“Spike has been doing all right for a while now. Hasn’t he?”

“That’s right.” Willow answered the Slayer. “And we know he’s been fighting whatever those ghosts have been saying to him. Giles told me it wanted him to keep the two of us apart, but Spike was the one who convinced him to come say goodbye to me before he left again.”

“That was some goodbye,” Dawn chuckled under her breath, making the witch blush at the memory of her first and last night with her new lover.

Buffy smiled at her friend. “Looks like they were both right. This thing has been working on the guys for a long time, and now it’s ready to make its move on us. And, if Spike has been able to hold out mentally against it, we can only guess it needs him for something else.”

“Okay,” Xander was coming back from dragging a body out the back door. “Sounds like, if we find where This First is operating from, that’s our best shot at finding Spike. Where do we start, Buff.”

“By learning all we can,” the Slayer ordered. “Break out the books, get on the net… We need to figure out how to find it and fight it. And hope there’s enough left of Spike to save when we do.”

******

“Should have known trusting you to protect them was a bad idea.”

Spike looked up at Giles as Bringers strapped him to a huge wooden wheel. “The ponce did know better,” he tried to laugh it off. “Told me so himself. Just because you can look like him, too, doesn’t mean he can get in my head either. Have to do better than that.”

“Really,” the clipped English accent chuckled. “And here I thought the pathetic hero vampires were starting to bond. But, if you like,” the voice slid to something decidedly more feminine, “I can always try something else.”

The pain in Spike’s eyes was evident at the sight of Buffy smiling at him. “She’s better than you,” he spat. “Better than all of us. Girl will find a way to stop you. It’s what she does.”

“Oh, I really do hope she turns out to be the challenge you all seem to think she is. Life is so boring when things are too easy.”

Spike cringed as the wheel lurched up and forward, suspending him over a circular, metallic doorway set deep into the floor. One of the Bringers stepped under him and began carving deep, bloody symbols into his chest. The sharp, blinding pain shot through every part of his body, making it hard to hear, let alone concentrate on The First’s taunts.

“But, for now, I want to show you something,” Buffy chirped happily. “You see, the original plan was to bleed Andrew, before he became too much of a liability. Oh, but you do look so much better striped down to nothing.” The vampire bit back screams of pain as more cuts were made and blood dripped from him onto the strange symbol below. “Now, pay attention. I’m about to show you what a real vampire looks like.”

As The First looked on with a pleased grin, Spike’s blood filled the seal. It glowed as it accepted the offering and began to open.

******

“We’re sure it’s called the Seal of Danzalthar?” Dawn asked in exasperation and pushed the laptop away with disgust. “Because, so far, it’s not existing.”

“That’s what Andrew called it. But, we all know how far I would trust him,” Willow muttered without looking up from the sand pattern she was making on the table.

Anya entered the dining room carrying a bowl full of herbs. “You think I should beat him up again? I wouldn’t mind.”

“I think you should give someone else a turn,” Dawn smiled wickedly.

The front door swung open, drawing everyone’s attention. “Did you find him?” Willow voiced the question for all three ladies.

Buffy shoved Andrew into the living room. “Tie him up again, will you,” she said to Xander before turning to the rest. “We found the seal thing, just like he said. No Spike, but it looked like he was there at some point. There was this big wheel-type thingy hanging next to it, and lots of blood. Whatever they took him for, I think it’s safe to say they didn’t waste any time.”

“Did they open the Hellmouth?” Anya asked

“If they did, it didn’t stay open. The spooky goat hatch was closed when we got there. Oh, and we ran into Principal Wood in the basement. He was doing something with a shovel. I’m not sure what he was up too, but we might need to start keeping an eye on him, too.” The Slayer yawned. “Any progress here?”

“Zip on the research front,” Dawn reported. “I can’t find any reference to The First or the Seal of Danzalthar anywhere.”

“We have to keep trying.”

“In the meantime,” Willow announced, “Anya and I have been setting up to attempt a simple locator spell. I figure, if we can find Spike we’ll find The First, or, if we can find The First…”

“We’ll find Spike,” Buffy finished. “Are you sure you’re up for this.”

“Well, I wish I had Giles here to back me up. Even Ethan might help. But at least Anya has seen enough magick to know if something’s going wrong.”

Dawn shrugged, “She did put Giles’ soul back. This is baby stuff compared to that.”

“Thank you, miss magick expert,” Buffy teased her sister. She looked to Willow. “If you say you’re good, I’m all for it. We need to find out where this creep is holing up.”

“All right,” the witch nodded. “Give me one minute.” She went back to finish her preparations.

“Hey,” Xander stepped up next to the Slayer. “You haven’t gotten any sleep in a couple days. We can handle this stuff and let you know if we find anything.”

“I’ll be okay,” she sighed as Willow began to chant. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.”

Magick exploded through the room, blasting Anya and Dawn away from the table. A red mist formed, surrounding Willow and flowing into her nostrils. When Buffy began to move toward the witch, she stood, knocking the Slayer back into Xander with red bolts of energy. Willow’s eyes glowed with the same red and the demon took form in the mist still surrounding her. It looked huge, hovering over the girl, with long, curved horns and eyes that were deep, black voids.

“You only make me stronger!” it used Willow’s voice to scream.

As it lunged for Buffy, Anya managed to make it back to her place, and snapped up a glowing bowl, smashing it against the wall. The demon vanished, leaving Willow to collapse. She shook and wept with terror.

The Slayer went to help her friend, but there was a crash behind her as the front door slammed open. Before she knew it, she was being pushed aside as someone else was trying to get to Willow. Immediately ready to fight for her friend, Buffy sucked in a deep breath of surprise when she suddenly recognized Ethan on the floor with the shaking witch, pulling her into his arms.

“It’s still in me!” she screamed as he held her in his lap, soothing her.

“No,” Ethan assured in a smooth, sure voice. “It’s gone now.”

Tears streamed down Willow’s face. “Please don’t let me hurt anybody.”

The sorcerer rocked her tenderly. “You won’t. It’s gone, and it can’t force anything of you. I know you’ve faced this menace several times. If it had the ability to possess any of us, it would have done so by now. Feel for it, my dear. Its access was cut off when the magick stopped. It has no hold on you.”

“How can you be sure? I’ve hurt people before.”

“I’m sure because you’re too strong to let anything force you to do something you do not want to. The power belongs to you, and that’s where it is safe.”

Willow’s wet eyes stared into his, wanting to believe. “How can you be so sure about me? You don’t know what I’ve done…”

“I know who loves you, my girl. And I’d trust no one’s judgment more. If he believes in you, so do I.” He earned a small smile with that, and moved to help her stand.

“Where did you come from?” Buffy snapped at Ethan with wide, accusing eyes.

“We were outside when the magickal wave hit,” he returned matter-of-factly. “Everyone even remotely sensitive within a league of this place must know something powerful occurred.” As soon as he had Willow up and steadied, Dawn flew at him, wrapping her arms around the older man’s neck.

“I knew you’d come back,” she whispered into his shoulder as he hugged her in return.

“I couldn’t stay away from my little goddess, now could I?” he purred affectionately, earning a giggle from the girl.

Buffy’s eyes lit up. “You said ‘we’… Is Giles out in the van, waiting for the sun?”

“Um… Not exactly.” With a dip of his head, Ethan drew everyone’s attention to the three girls standing in the living room, wearing expressions that ranged from boredom, to intrigue, to fear. “I’d suspect that, about now, Rupert is somewhere in Europe removing the head from some unsavory character or other. You see… We seem to have a slight apocalypse on our hands.”

******

“These are Slayers?” Dawn stared at the newcomers as everyone gathered in the living room.

“Potentials,” Ethan corrected, “as the Council called them. They have all been identified as having the possibility of being called, if needed.” He gave Buffy an almost apologetic glance, to which she responded with a surprised and understanding nod. “Rupert didn’t exactly fill me in on how they could tell, but I do know that there were hundreds all around the world.”

“Were?” Dawn asked as she sat between Willow and Anya.

“The First has been wiping them out,” Buffy murmured. “Killing every last one it could find. That’s what I’ve been dreaming.”

“I’m afraid so. Rupert sent me here, collecting the girls I could along the way, to deliver all the information we’ve gathered to you while he continued on in hopes of saving what potentials remained. It’s a monumental task, but I wouldn’t be surprised if more begin showing up at the door any minute now. He is hoping you can protect them, Buffy. There’s nowhere else they’ll be safe.”

“But no pressure,” Xander groaned on his friend’s behalf.

“You said you had information?” Willow attempted to steer the conversation in a more helpful direction.

“Yes,” Ethan glanced at the girls. “Annabelle, if you would?” The potential holding the satchel walked up to a makeshift coffee table and emptied its contents.

Anya looked over the few books and files. “This is all you’ve got?”

“It’s what we were able to pilfer from the Council. You should be grateful I got out with that before the building blew.”

“The what did what?” Dawn gasped.

Ethan sighed, “Of course, he didn’t so much as pick up a bloody phone. The Council headquarters in London. There was an explosion, and now there’s no more Council.”

“You guys blew the Council up!” Anya accused. “See, this is what happens when you're all stuffy and repressed. You overreact.”

The sorcerer leveled a serious stare at her. “What do you take us for? If Ripper and I had wanted to do mischief to the Council, I dare say we would have come up with something a bit more imaginative. Not to mention our timing would have been much better.”

“Your timing?” Willow asked, confused.

“Well, I would have liked to’ve been far enough away to avoid getting singed. And I’m sure Ripper didn’t much enjoy his trip out of a third story window.”

“His what out a what!?!” Buffy echoed her sister.

“He insisted on being the distraction while I went for the files. Being who we are, there wasn’t much chance of cooperation from their bureaucracy driven system. Turned out most of the Council members were gathered there, discussing how to deal with The First. Next thing I know, the whole building is going up and here comes Ripper flying out a window, carrying that old coot who chased me away when I tried to rescue my beautiful boy from their clutches years ago.” Ethan glanced around at the wide eyes staring at him and chuckled to himself. “But I digress. The important thing is that the old man was able to pass a list of known potentials to Rupert before he died, and now he has taken it upon himself to save them all.”

“But he can’t! No one can!” Andrew yelled melodramatically.

Ethan spun to gaze at the bound young man with amused and penetrating midnight eyes. “Sacrifice?” he asked Buffy out of the corner of his mouth.

“More like a hostage,” the Slayer groaned. “And one that’s this close to being gaged again.”

The sorcerer’s eyes lit with a dark glee. “May I have him? There are so many things I could do with such interesting young flesh. So many useful ingredients I could extract from him. Virgin, too, if ever I saw one.” Andrew recoiled, trying to hide in the back of his chair.

“Be my guest,” Buffy answered with a bored air.

“I’ll be good,” the boy whimpered. “I swear.”

Dawn giggled, pulling Ethan’s dancing gaze to her on the couch. With Andrew behind him, he winked, proving her suspicion that he was playing. Next to her, Willow couldn’t help a small smirk at her once enemy’s distress as well.

“Is there anything more you can tell us about The First?” she asked.

“I haven’t had the time to carefully peruse these files. I was never as much for the research as Ripper. But I can tell you what we’ve learned from our encounters. The First is a non-corporeal being. Not able to take action in the physical world on its own, it works through followers and those it can manipulate. And it can appear in the image of anyone who has left this existence at some point. Rupert wanted me to be sure you all understood the serious implications of that.”

Dawn frowned, “That means it could be--”

“Many you already know. Truly, anyone who’s been out of your direct sight for any length of time should be suspect until proven.” Ethan glanced around the room and grinned. “In which case, I would propose a policy of this becoming a very touchy-feely bunch.”

“Even so,” Kennedy stepped forward, “it can still send more of those hooded wackos after us. You guys saw what they did to my Watcher, to everyone who’s tried to protect us. I get that Buffy’s a Slayer and all, but how can one person be expected fight off an army?”

“Buffy will figure things out. She always has,” Xander stood up for his friend.

“No,” the Slayer muttered. “She’s not wrong. We’re gonna need more muscle if we wanna keep anyone safe. We need to get Spike back.”

The doorbell rang, interrupting the conversation. As the fighters in the room carefully formed into a defensive unit, Xander slowly moved to open the door. Outside stood a young girl with tired, frightened eyes.

She spoke in a heavy French accent. “I am sent by Monsieur Giles?”

Ethan relaxed with a sigh. “So it begins.”

“All right,” Buffy started giving orders while grabbing her jacket. “You guys start getting our guests settled in. I remember where I met The First years ago, when it came after Angel. And I think it’s time to see if it’s up to some old tricks.”

“You can’t go without backup.” Xander picked up his own jacket.

“I’m not. He’s coming with me.”

Ethan gave her pointing finger a stricken look. “Excuse me, but you might have mistaken me for someone useful. I’m not one of your merry band of death-wishers.”

“I haven’t forgotten. But Giles sent you to me for some reason. And, right now, that’s enough for me to use you. Besides, you might be helpful if we encounter anything new The First has for us.”

Ethan opened his mouth again, but an encouraging and trusting nod from Dawn stopped his protest.

“Yeah, well,” Xander moved accompany the Slayer. “I still don’t trust this guy to be good for anything when the chips are down. I’m coming, too.”

“Some intelligence from the boy at last,” Ethan muttered as they left the house.

******

Just after sunrise everyone in the kitchen jumped when the back door banged open. Ethan and Xander stood under Buffy’s arms, supporting her as they entered together. The Slayer was bloody and bruised, hanging exhausted between them.

Dawn rushed in to see what the commotion was about and gasped. “Oh my God! What happened?”

“I’m all right,” Buffy tried to calm everyone. She now counted six potentials in her kitchen. “Just let me sit down in a chair.”

Xander carefully lowered her, calling out, “Wills! Bring the first aid kit.”

“Did you guys run into more of the alphabet squad?” Kennedy asked as the girls stared with huge eyes at the Slayer.

“Not exactly,” Buffy tried to smile. “Ethan, any idea what that was?”

“I… I’m not sure.”

“Big help you are,” Xander snapped irritably.

“Look. I’m not a bloody Watcher, and I never claimed to be an expert on this type of thing. In fact, I have a strict policy of avoiding those monsters that might kill me, at all costs.” He scrubbed at his eyes, then glanced around at all the scared faces. In a much calmer voice, he asked, “Dawn, my dear, you wouldn’t happen to have a copy of Drumold’s Compendium of Mythical Creatures, would you?”

“I’ll go check,” the teenager said, hurrying from the room.

Molly stepped up beside Kennedy. “The thing that did this to Buffy. Do you think it’s coming here? Should we be doing something?”

Buffy cringed as Xander swabbed at a deep cut along her collarbone. “It looks like the sun’s keeping it at bay for now. I know a lot of you are tired from travelling. Try to get some rest while you can. Tonight might be a different story.”

Dawn ran in and passed a large book to Ethan, who began flipping through pages as she looked on at his shoulder.

“Like we’re going to be able to rest now,” Annabelle muttered.

Kennedy turned sharply to her and the newest girls. “If you don’t think you can rest, then meet me in the basement. It can’t be all up to Buffy to try to protect us. Those of us who’ve had training can start teaching the rest of you how to defend yourselves.”

“I was afraid of that,” Ethan groaned. Buffy looked expectantly up at him, waiting for what he’d found. The sorcerer hesitated at the worried faces of the potentials. “Waiting might be--”

“They’re in this just like the rest of us,” the Slayer interrupted. “No point in coddling them now.”

“Well, I’d like very much for someone to coddle me at the moment,” he muttered morosely. Dawn gently rubbed his back, encouraging him on. “It seems I’ve found our new friend.”

“In a book of mythical beasts?” Willow asked with a raised brow.

“Yes, well… They were, you see, until today. It’s called a Turok-Han. And according to dear old Drumold, ‘as Neanderthals are to human beings, the Turok-Han are to vampires. Primordial, ferociously powerful killing machines, as single-minded as animals. They are the vampires that vampires fear. An ancient and entirely different race.’ Cheerful,” the sorcerer added.

Dawn blew a slow breath. “So, The First shows up, and now this Uber-vamp. Anyone hoping for coincidence?”

“We don’t get those,” Buffy sighed. “All right. Let’s make the most of having some time while the sun’s up. Dawn and I should go to school. The rest of you try to sort out some defenses around here in case we get another visit.” She tried to get up and winced in pain.

“Plan overruled,” her little sister said with her fists on her hips. “You are going to bed to heal. I’ll cover for you at school, and see what I can scope out about the principal, too.” The Slayer gave a defiant glare, but soon bowed to the logic.

“And, chances are, we’ll get more arrivals today,” Willow added. “Ethan and I will take care of all that while you rest.”

Ethan rolled his eyes at being volunteered… again. It was Dawn who caught it and chuckled, elbowing him teasingly. “Hey,” she whispered as the others began to disperse, “could be worse. You could be sentenced to a day of high school with me.”

Fic: Magister 3 (Vamp!Giles) FRT (6/?)

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